Rowdy Harrington's boxing drama Gladiator comes to DVD with a pair of images. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and is preferable to the standard full-frame 1.33:1 image. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include production notes, talent files, and theatrical trailers. This solid disc will be of interest to Cuba Gooding Jr. fans and boxing film enthusiasts.

John Rambo is back for the forth time on DVD with this Ultimate Edition of First Blood from Lion's Gate Home Entertainment. What's special about this release is not just the newly added audio commentary from Stallone himself; the disc's producer's have also finally unearthed the never-before-seen alternate suicide ending -- a virtual Holy Grail of film footage long talked about, but rarely seen. Add onto that an outtake and yet another bonus flashback featuring a steamy sex scene (yes, you heard it right), and suddenly this reissue becomes worth the buy. However packed those extras might be, though, that doesn't seem to be enough for the Ultimate Edition. In probably one of the most overblown bonuses since the Blair Witch 2's "The Secret of Esrever" DVD feature, First Blood and both of its sequels have been graced with a "Survival Mode" feature that is every bit as worthless as it sounds. Using branching technology, the disc's producers have outfitted the DVD to give the viewer access to special character information, map recreations, and some rather ridiculous animations that serve no purpose other than to just be "flashy." The fact that they have chosen a name like "Survival Mode" to represent all of these features is fitting, since watching the film like this really is like a game of endurance for people with very little time on their hands. Other than the uneven group of bonus features, the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture looks stunning, with deep contrasts that enhance the gloom of the film, while the 5.1 Dolby Digital audio sports a exemplary mix that pulls you into the action yet still manages to handle the outdoor setting in a natural and absorbing way. As far as the commentary goes, Stallone delivers a fun track that borders on being a little too Inside the Actors Studio at times, but which is full of insight into the scripting and especially the casting (keep your ear open for the Kirk Douglas story). The alternate ending is faulted only because it lived on as a film legend for so long, which says nothing about its quality -- though it is actually quite short. When all is said and done, the disc is worth purchasing for first-time buyers of the series and for hardcore fans who salivate at the thought of the new extras. This DVD is also available in a three-disc Collector's Set of all three Ultimate Edition discs of this blockbuster series.

Widely considered to be the definitive of the many film versions of Charles Dickens' classic novel is this 1951 British adaptation, starring Alastair Sim (entitled "Scrooge" in its U.K. release). Sim plays Ebenezer Scrooge, a London miser who, despite his wealth, refuses to make charitable contributions and treats his sole employee, Bob Cratchit, as an indentured servant. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, who was as selfish as Scrooge in life and has been condemned to an eternity of wandering the Earth in shackles. Marley informs Scrooge that he's to receive a trio of spirits that night who will take him on a journey through Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. As Scrooge encounters each apparition, he is taken on a tour of his life and realizes what a wretch he is, transformed by greed from an idealistic youth into an embittered ogre. Infused with a new, cheery outlook, Scrooge sets about earning his redemption.

Joe Dante directs Tom Hanks in the cult favorite The 'Burbs, which comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. There are no subtitles, but the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer, biographies of the actors, and production notes. This is a solid release from Universal that should satisfy fans of the film.